Leeds now leading race to sign "excellent" star with same agent as Justin

Leeds United are keen to finish the window with some strong signings and are now deemed to be leading the race for a talented offensive star, according to reports.

Leeds United complete deal to sign James Justin

Taking their summer transfer spend to over £100 million, Leeds United have announced the signing of full-back James Justin from Leicester City for a fee in the region of £10 million.

Capped at international level by England, the 27-year-old shared his pride at putting pen to paper at Elland Road on a four-year contract as he looks to help Daniel Farke keep the Whites in the Premier League.

He stated: “Obviously to join a club of this size and to have the history it has had, and being back in the Premier League was a massive thing for me, so I’m over the moon to have joined.

“The stadium has obviously got one of the best atmospheres in world football. And it’s always a daunting task to come here as an opposing team, but I’m happy to have the fans behind me this time.”

Moving on, Leeds United are eyeing an ambitious loan move for Manchester United star Kobbie Mainoo amid the England international failing to get off the bench in the Red Devils’ first two matches of the new season.

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The Whites could have a chance to seal a deal…

BySean Markus Clifford

Furthermore, a late return to Elland Road for Manor Solomon isn’t out of the question, albeit it remains to be seen whether Thomas Frank will let the winger leave North London within the final stretch of the window.

Plenty of work remains to be done for Leeds United on incomings, and supporters will be delighted to see that they are now leading the race for an exciting attacker.

Leeds leading race to sign Facundo Buonanotte

According to South American journalist Cesar Luis Merlo on X, Leeds United are leading the race to sign Brighton & Hove Albion star Facundo Buonanotte this summer following his loan spell at Leicester City.

West Ham United are also keen on his signature, and the two Premier League clubs appear to be the ‘most determined’ to land the Argentina international, who registered six goals and three assists in 35 appearances last campaign.

Demonstrating his quality in the top-flight, Buonanotte created 25 chances and completed 28 dribbles, per Fotmob, providing a bright spark in a Leicester City side that became obvious candidates for relegation due to their lack of depth.

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He is a client of CAA Stellar, like new Whites signing Justin, possibly offering a little bit of encouragement that he may favour a move to Yorkshire over East London.

Leeds United will hope they are in a position to avoid a similar fate when it comes to relegation, and bringing in someone with the capacity to cover both the ten role and right flank will definitely add another exciting option that may well go on to succeed at Elland Road.

Liverpool launch £40m+ offer to sign 'the next Yamal' Roony Bardghji

Liverpool have now reportedly launched an offer worth more than £40m to sign a Barcelona wonderkid in the hope of succeeding Mohamed Salah.

Szoboszlai sends Arsenal "champions" reminder

Liverpool enter the Emirates as wounded champions this evening, with many predicting that Arsenal will send their latest title statement on their way to potential silverware.

Dominik Szoboszlai has not forgotten who the Reds are, however, and sent a timely reminder to the Gunners that they remain challengers rather than the Premier League champions.

He told reporters: “It’s a long way. The Premier League is not easy and you don’t win it by January, I don’t think so [playing against the champions].

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“They are playing against the champions. They know as well, they are one of the favourites and an unbelievable team with unbelievable players.

“They can’t forget about City and Villa, they are doing really well. No, we don’t play against the champions; they are playing against the champions.”

It’s a bold statement, but the type that Liverpool must have in mind as they travel to North London. Their ego has been damaged almost beyond repair in recent months, yet Szoboszlai’s words should reignite the kind of arrogance that helped Arne Slot’s side on their way to glory last season.

To do so, they may well have to perform without an out-and-out striker for the second game running, however, following the latest update on Hugo Ekitike.

The Frenchman’s injury has exposed Liverpool’s attacking depth. Despite spending big in the summer, breaking their transfer record twice, the Reds have been left incredibly short after just three absences emerged. That simply must change.

Liverpool launch £40m+ offer to sign Roony Bardghji

Attempting to find the depth that they so desperately need, those at Anfield have seemingly turned towards Barcelona. According to reports in Spain, Liverpool have launched an offer to sign Roony Bardghji worth €50m (£42m) this month.

The winger could become the ideal replacement for Salah, who looks increasingly likely to call time on an iconic Liverpool career in the summer.

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Whilst replacing the Egyptian will be no easy task, signing Bardghji to do exactly that would make perfect sense. The 20-year-old has shown flashes of his quality at Barcelona this season and they could enjoy the economic benefit of selling a young player who’s yet to become a starter under Hansi Flick.

The Swede recently starred in Barcelona’s Spanish Supercopa semi-final victory over Atheltic Club, scoring once and creating two others in a 5-0 thumping, and it’s clear to see where comparisons to Lamine Yamal have come from.

The club’s sporting director Deco told reporters when Bardghji first arrived: “We had Dani Rodríguez for that position, but Dani got injured, and he’s a different profile than Roony, who’s more similar to Lamine, who comes in and links up.”

West Ham step up move for £20m-plus attacker who gave Wan-Bissaka nightmares

Still seeking reinforcements as the Premier League campaign gets underway, West Ham United are now reportedly ready to step up their move to sign a Championship star.

Latest West Ham transfer news

It’s not been a summer full of headlines at the London Stadium, but the Hammers have still welcomed a number of solid additions. El Hadji Malick Diouf, Kyle-Walker Peters, Mads Hermansen and Callum Wilson have all arrived to hand Graham Potter a much-needed boost across the squad as he looks to turn what has been a difficult start at West Ham around.

With just two weeks left until the transfer window slams shut, though, there’s still work to be done. Potter’s side are arguably still short in a number of areas and, as such, targets like Aleix Garcia and Lorenzo Pellegrini could still arrive.

Garcia is a particularly interesting target. The Bayer Leverkusen midfielder spent time at Manchester City in the early stages of his career, before eventually working his way back to the top level to join Leverkusen last summer. Now, just one year on from that move, the midfielder has done enough to attract the interest of West Ham.

Of course, however, he’s not the only one on the Hammers’ reported radar. Harvey Elliott has been linked with a move away from Liverpool all summer long, and he remains without a move. Among those interested in the England U21 international, West Ham could yet look to complete a late swoop.

Harvey Elliott celebrates for Liverpool

The same can be said for another impressive talent, with those at the London Stadium now reportedly ready to increase their efforts in pursuit of his signature.

West Ham ready to step up El Khannouss move

According to GiveMeSport, West Ham are now ready to step up their move to sign Bilal El Khannouss this summer. The Leicester City star, who can leave for the value of his £22.5m release clause, has attracted interest from Leeds United, Crystal Palace and the Hammers in recent months, with the London club now seemingly prepared to battle their rivals for his signature.

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That said, it won’t be an easy deal to pull off. There are already reportedly concerns at West Ham that they won’t be in a strong enough position to turn El Khannouss’ head away from other clubs this month and there are reservations over their ability to even afford the deal.

Alas, what they should not be concerned about is the midfielder’s ability, given that Aaron Wan-Bissaka saw it first-hand when El-Khannouss scored and assisted in a 3-1 victory over West Ham last season. In a one-on-one battle against the Leicester man, Wan-Bissaka suffered a rare defeat.

Praised for that “great performance” by then-manager Ruud van Nistelrooy, El Khannouss left Wan-Bissaka guessing all game long in a decisive display which proved his Premier League quality.

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There are plenty of reservations over their ability to get the deal done, but West Ham should push as far as they can to sign the Leicester star before the end of the month.

Upgrade on Mount: INEOS make “world-class” star Man Utd's “No.1 target”

With the typically ever-present Bruno Fernandes forced to take on a rare watching brief for Manchester United’s clash with Newcastle United, all eyes were on who would be the man to step up in the Portuguese’s absence.

For much of the first half, it was fellow playmaker Mason Mount who looked like taking on that mantle, with the resurgent Englishman at the centre of everything for the Red Devils, both in and out of possession.

The 26-year-old’s growing importance was none more so evident than when he was ultimately absent after the break, with the hosts simply retreating in that backs-to-the-wall second-half performance.

Frustratingly, it would appear that the ex-Chelsea man’s fitness woes have reared their ugly head again, with Mount simply unable to prove himself as a reliable presence in Ruben Amorim’s side, having lasted the 90 minutes on just two occasions all season.

As was evident with his strike away at Molineux, there is a quality player in there. Unfortunately, with his talents repeatedly overshadowed by injury, Amorim and co are in need of an upgrade.

Man Utd make Premier League midfielder their No.1 target

While Mount – signed for £55m back in the summer of 2023 – has typically been deployed in a left-sided number ten berth in Amorim’s 3-4-3 set-up, the recent tactical reshuffle has seen United’s number seven slot into something of a deeper role, orchestrating proceedings in almost Fernandes fashion.

It was the midfielder’s stunning switch which picked out Patrick Dorgu at Villa Park, in the build-up to Matheus Cunha’s agonising missed header, with there having been promising signs from the Champions League winner in recent weeks.

As already stated, however, Mount is frustratingly unable to remain fit and firing, with the need to continually manage his game time ensuring he has started just 29 of his 63 games for the club in all competitions.

With that in mind, and with the recent change to a back four seemingly set to continue, Mount could be a potential casualty, not least if INEOS are able to land Nottingham Forest sensation, Elliot Anderson.

According to the Daily Mail’s Nathan Salt, the 23-year-old is now the Old Trafford side’s “No.1 target”, with the England international wanted as the centrepiece of United’s midfield overhaul in 2026.

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As per the report, the ex-Newcastle man is likely to be more of a summer target for Amorim’s side, with the likes of James Garner being considered as more short-term alternatives for the New Year.

As previously indicated, any deal for Anderson – be it next month or next summer – is likely to cost upwards of £100m.

Why Anderson could be the perfect Mount upgrade

It hasn’t been seen enough, yet Mount’s quality is hard to question, with Amorim having singled him out as a “proper footballer” following his appointment back in November 2024.

When fit and firing, the injury-prone talent can be so influential to the current United iteration, notably ranking in the top 11% of attacking midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for non-penalty goals per 90, as per FBref, as well as ranking in the top 8% for tackles made per 90.

He is an asset then at both sides of the game, although that is certainly also true of Anderson, with the Forest playmaker a master at breaking up play, albeit while having that progressive quality to match in possession.

Now the leading candidate to partner Declan Rice at next year’s World Cup, the youngster’s all-round quality was on full display in the Three Lions’ autumn internationals,

Indeed, he averaged 8.6 ball recoveries per game in World Cup qualifying, while also boasting a stellar 93% pass accuracy, as per Sofascore.

Such standout form has also been replicated even amid a turbulent Premier League campaign at the City Ground, averaging 8.4 ball recoveries, while also recording 1.6 key passes per game from his 17 starts.

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For comparison, Mount averages just 2.7 recoveries per game, even while leading the press under Amorim, having also averaged just 0.8 key passes from his 15 outings, only ten of which have come from the start.

Anderson vs Man Utd (01/11/25)

Stat

Record

Minutes

90

Touches

84

Pass accuracy

75%

Key passes

3

Possession lost

25

Dribbles

2/2

Tackles won

1/1

Recoveries

14

Total duels won

7/14

Stats via Sofascore

It may not seem as if Anderson would be a direct competitor to his compatriot, although it’s fair to say he isn’t just a safe and steady number six, with talkSPORT’s Max Scott even going as far as to suggest that he is like “Roy Keane, Paul Scholes and Zinedine Zidane all rolled into one”.

Also lauded as a “world-class” talent by commentator Jamie Martin, the in-demand Geordie has the tools to operate in a more advanced, box-to-box role if required, memorably registering 13 goals and assists in just 21 games on loan at Bristol Rovers a few years ago.

Unlike Mount, who hasn’t featured for his country since the 2022 World Cup, Anderson is now a central figure in the Thomas Tuchel regime, showcasing which of the pair really is the man on the rise right now.

Mount might be Amorim’s man, yet with Friday evening having been the latest in a long line of frustrating setbacks in his stop-start United career, the time might have come for the Portuguese to hang his hat on another classy midfield operator like Anderson.

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Ally McCoist: If what I've heard from Rangers is true, it's "diabolical"

Rangers legend Ally McCoist has let his feelings be known about his former club, following their 1-1 draw away to St Mirren over the weekend.

Frustration mounts after another Rangers draw

The Gers are still without a win in their first three Scottish Premiership matches this season, with Sunday’s draw making it three stalemates on the spin to begin their domestic campaign. Not only that, but last week’s 3-1 defeat at home to Club Brugge was a hugely disappointing result, with the pressure increasing on manager Russell Martin by the week.

While the Rangers boss claimed that Sunday’s result wasn’t the “end of the world”, former Gers striker Kris Boyd was extremely critical of what he saw.

McCoist fumes at "diabolical" Igamane news

Speaking live on talkSPORT on Monday morning, McCoist fumed at Rangers striker Hamza Igamane potentially faking an injury in the warm-up before the St Mirren game, amid doubts over his future.

“I think the lad wants away regardless of Russell Martin’s approach to his job, to be honest with you. It’s a tough one, because we’ve all got an opinion on it, but effectively we don’t know. If he says he’s injured himself in the warm-up, there’s not a lot you can do about it.

“I find it very, very strange at that particular time, but I’m talking to you as a man that has effectively injured himself in a warm-up of a cup final and had to pull out. So it can happen. It can happen.

“But there’s just something not right about it. See if he’s not injured, you fine him as much as you possibly can. They’re in a position now. It’s appalling. If he is fit to play and he said, no, I’m injured and I’m not going on, then that’s diabolical.”

In fairness to Igamane, there is no way of knowing if he was injured or not, but the timing of it does raise some suspicion, as he potentially looks to seal a move away from Rangers this week.

Frankly, it is another situation that the club could do without, following one of the most disappointing starts to a season in recent memory, with both performances and results simply not good enough.

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Granted, Rangers did at least show some fight by coming from behind against St Mirren on Sunday, but they simply have to be winning matches of that ilk if they have any title ambitions this season.

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Those hopes already look more than bleak, however, and for Martin, he will know that one or two more bad results could spell the end, with his squad arguably not giving their all for him currently.

ENIC must now be worried they've signed another Ndombele at Spurs

Last week, it was made known that Thomas Frank had sat down with ENIC Group and left that meeting with the backing of the Tottenham Hotspur board.

But, since then, the Londoners have fallen to another home defeat, this time against struggling Liverpool, and the pressure is unquestionably cranking up. Still, pundits like Jamie Redknapp have reiterated the stance that the Danish coach needs time to right the many wrongs down N17.

Redknapp is right, and Tottenham’s star players need to step up. However, with the defenders leaving much to be desired, who is it within the Lilywhites squad who has what it takes to step up and guide the squad back to the forefront of Premier League football?

Who can lead Frank's Spurs side to success

In recent years, Tottenham have lost Harry Kane and Heung-min Son to overseas moves. It’s difficult to argue that such talismanic figures have been effectively replaced.

Now, new stars need to step up. Whether Cristian Romero is the one to lead the charge is open to debate, with the Argentine skipper sent off after kicking out at Ibrahima Konate at the weekend.

Spurs need players to step up, leading the club to success after a first half of the 2025/26 campaign that has underlined the fact that there are too many pieces of driftwood about Frank’s outfit.

Too often, Spurs have launched big-money bids for the likes of Richarlison and Dominic Solanke. Both arrived to the tune of £60m or so, and it’s hard to argue that either striker has been a bona fide success.

The worst of the lot would have to be Tanguy Ndombele, who was the club-record arrival when he joined from Lyon for £63m in 2019.

Journalist Paul Brown called the lazy France midfielder “one of the worst signings Spurs have ever made”. It would be hard to replicate such a dismal deal, but ENIC Group may be worried they have done exactly that this summer.

ENIC must worry they've signed Ndombele 2.0

The Lewis Family didn’t enjoy a flawless summer transfer window by any stretch, but there’s no question that the likes of Mohammed Kudus and Xavi Simons arrived as talented additions capable of driving Tottenham back into the domestic ascendancy.

Simons, 22, joined Tottenham from RB Leipzig for an initial £51m fee this summer, and his arrival caused a fanfare, given Chelsea had shown a vested interest for many months before.

However, it’s been tough for the Dutchman to adapt to the pace and physicality of the Premier League, with content creator Ronaldo Brown even asserting that he has been “swallowed” in the English top flight this season.

Having started to kick on, Simons lunged too far against Liverpool, receiving red in the first half after a studs-up challenge against his Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk.

Branded for a moment of “reckless stupidity” by Sky Sports co-commentator Gary Neville, Simons will know miss a crucial run of fixtures after a recent uptick in form, scoring his first goals for the club in December and maintaining promising creative levels.

There’s nothing wrong with Simons’ application, but his over-zealousness and high technical bar suggest he may well have a bit of Ndombele-itis about him, and this is something that Frank will need to swiftly fix if his project is to be a success, having worked with the board to secure this coveted playmaker for a hefty fee.

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After all, Simons ranks among the top 10% of positional peers in the Premier League this season for passes attempted, the top 6% for progressive passes and the top 14% for tackles per 90, as per FBref, so he’s got the fullness of skillset to succeed.

However, it could be said that the same was true for Ndombele. He’s one of the most technically gifted players we’ve seen in Spurs colours this decade, but the application of his skillset was too inconsistent. He became an easy scapegoat and his time in the capital ended in tears and with a hefty dent in the club’s wallet.

Tanguy Ndombele

Spurs cannot afford to fall by the wayside here. Neither can Frank. Neither can Simons.

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Premier League star says Arsenal have made "surprising" signing for Arteta

Arsenal have splashed the cash this summer in a bid to win their first Premier League title in over 20 years, and Mikel Arteta may not even be done there.

While a move for Crystal Palace playmaker Eberechi Eze grows more and more unlikely by the day, amid stiff competition from Tottenham, who are now in talks for the England international, Andrea Berta could still go after a left-winger.

This would be dependent on one of Leandro Trossard or Gabriel Martinelli leaving in the next two weeks, or perhaps both, but Arteta has already confirmed that Arsenal are still looking at opportunities after signing Kepa, Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard, Noni Madueke, Cristhian Mosquera and Viktor Gyokeres.

“Let’s see,” Arteta said when asked about Arsenal’s transfer plans for the rest of the window.

“Let’s see what happens, in terms of where the squad is in the next few weeks.

“But, we are actively looking at options. As well, there are a few players, maybe, that they have to leave as well. So, we will be open to see what happens.”

It’s important to note that a move for Eze still hasn’t been entirely ruled out by credible media sources, but Tottenham appear to be taking pole position for him right now amid their glaring need for a playmaker to replace the injured James Maddison.

Arsenal’s hesitation is a result of their already-stocked central attacking midfield (talkSPORT), with club captain Martin Odegaard set for another key role going forward and Ethan Nwaneri tipped for more minutes after committing his future to the Emirates Stadium.

In truth, Arteta is very well reinforced in midfield, having also welcomed the arrivals of Zubimendi and Norgaard to replace Jorginho and Thomas Partey – who both left N5 after their contracts expired.

Norgaard in particular already boasts considerable Premier League experience from his time at Brentford, where he captained the Bees and stood out as perhaps one of their more underappreciated key players.

Mikkel Damsgaard says Arsenal have made a "surprising" signing in Norgaard

His former teammate at the Gtech Community Stadium, Mikkel Damsgaard, is convinced that Norgaard will be a quality signing for Arteta – albeit a “surprising” one.

Speaking to Danish news outlet Tipsbladet, via Sport Witness, Damsgaard says his fellow Dane is a hard-working player and backs him to succeed in north London.

Interestingly, former Tottenham director Frank Arnesen echoes this sentiment – calling Norgaard the “whole package”.

The 31-year-old signed a two-year contract with Arsenal, who spent an initial £10 million, plus £5m in add-ons, to secure his signature.

Luckhurst bemoans £150k-p/w Man Utd star who was "wayward" vs Bournemouth

Several failed to hide their disappointment as Manchester United, while rampant in attack, could not contain Bournemouth on Monday night, as they were held to a frantic 4-4 draw by Bournemouth.

Neville tells Amorim to "forget" system in "stunning" draw

If there was ever a way to make up for Man United’s lack of goals in their last two Old Trafford appearances, it was with four against Bournemouth. The only problem was that the Cherries also managed to find the back of the net four times to create one of the games of the season on Monday night.

There were several positive signs for the Red Devils even after dropping more points at home. This was not a game met with boos, it was one met with optimism at full-time.

Old Trafford legend and Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville shared that optimism, saying on Monday Night Football: “It was a stunning watch. I was really critical after the Everton and West Ham games because of just the nature of the performance. I thought it was really bland.

“This was the complete and utter opposite. I can live with that all day long in terms of a performance and a standard because they played with real intent, played the ball forward, always played at full pace.

“When United went 3-2 down, Ruben Amorim then went to 4-4-2 and did the right thing. Forget the system, he did the right thing. He got the right players on the pitch and were a massive threat.”

It was a particularly good night for Matheus Cunha, who scored just his second goal for the club since arriving for around £63m from Wolverhampton Wanderers in the summer. It was a deserved strike for another dogged display from the Brazilian in front of his new home fans.

The same can’t be said for Bryan Mbeumo, however, who faced criticism from several United media personalities on Monday night.

Mbeumo frustrates during Bournemouth draw

Whilst fellow attacker Cunha set Old Trafford alight, Mbeumo was hugely frustrating. He missed several wonderful opportunities, notably firing a volley over the bar from inside the area in the first half and then sending a wild effort over from just a matter of yards out in the second half. For those efforts, he was criticised by The Sun’s Samuel Luckhurst who bemoaned the player’s “wayward” finishing while United YouTuber Alice Talks Footy who simply said that he was “playing with [Alejandro] Garnacho’s finishing”.

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Furthermore, he took fewer touches than Ayden Heaven and recorded an XG of 0.48 despite taking four shots. For his recent standards, it was a disappointing display.

Mbeumo vs Bournemouth

Minutes played

89′

Goals

0

Assists

0

Touches

43

Possession lost

9x

Shots (on target)

4 (2)

Accurate passes

21/27 (78%)

Chances created

2

Dribbles

0/2

Recoveries

1

Tackles

0/1

Duels won

5/13

Data via Sofascore

What should be most alarming for Amorim is that it’s now one goal in five Premier League games for his £150,000-a-week forward, who is now heading to AFCON off the back of a frustrating display.

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INEOS are ready to add some quality to Man United’s ranks this January.

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Man United’s attack has been improved, there’s no doubting that, but there’s also no denying that they’re yet to see Mbeumo, Cunha and Benjamin Sesko click as a front three and that must change after AFCON.

Man Utd ready to move quickly to sign £280,000-a-week Real Madrid star

Man Utd ready to smash British transfer record to form unstoppable front three

Manchester United are in the hunt for new arrivals this window and could be set to make a statement on the market under Ruben Amorim with the competitive kick-off approaching, according to a report.

Fernandes demands Manchester United signings after Everton draw

Manchester United won the Premier League Summer Series after a 2-2 draw with Everton, but that didn’t stop Bruno Fernandes demanding that his side make new signings in a passionate post-match interview.

He stated: “It’s improving, but it’s not where we want it to be. It’s a game of football, there’s always passion there. Whatever happens, happens.”

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Later, he added: “I don’t want to have a dig at anyone, but I think the club is doing the best they can in terms of all the financial situations they talk about. I don’t know about it, I’m not involved in that. But obviously, it was crystal clear we needed more competition for the players that were here.”

In light of some strong words from the Portuguese international, Manchester United intend to bid for RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko, who has shot onto their radar as a key target following his exploits in Germany.

Raising funds will be important to ensuring there is an adequate budget available for Amorim to spend, and Alejandro Garnacho’s potential departure to Chelsea could place some vital financial capital into the coffers at Old Trafford.

Alejandro Garnacho.

With the new league season now less than two weeks away, there is still plenty of work for Manchester United to carry out as a new dawn comes into play, and they could now be set to up the ante on that front amid recent developments.

Man Utd look to assemble explosive front three with Vinicius Junior

After the arrivals of Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, Manchester United are ‘preparing’ a bid for Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior as Sir Jim Ratcliffe looks to make a ‘flagship’ signing during the early part of INEOS’s reign.

The Brazil international is out of contract in 2027 and is yet to pen an extension in the Spanish capital due demands to be placed alongside Kylian Mbappe in their wage structure. Now, reports in Spain reveal the Red Devils are ‘willing’ to make a ‘monumental proposal’ worth around £174m, which would eclipse the British transfer record by a wide margin.

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INEOS want to ‘assemble an explosive offensive trio with Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha’, and Vinicius’ future has taken an ‘unexpected turn’.

Last season, the Brazilian superstar registered 22 goals and 19 assists in 58 appearances across all competitions. Still, he could now be set for a surprise new challenge with Florentino Pérez not willing to bring him to parity with Mbappe’s pay packet.

Financially, Manchester United would be stretched to put together a package worthy of tempting the world-renowned star to England, though Ratcliffe and company do seem like they are willing to put their best foot forward.

The new Son: Spurs prepared to pay £65m to sign "world-class" talent

Tottenham Hotspur’s attack in 2025/26 has massively failed to deliver at present, as seen by the measly figures produced by those in such an area of the pitch.

Richarlison is currently the Lilywhites’ top scorer in the Premier League this campaign, but the Brazilian has only managed to score five times in his 14 appearances to date.

Micky van de Ven is the only other player within Thomas Frank’s squad to net more than two goals in England’s top-flight, further showcasing the lack of talent in the final third.

Fellow centre-back Cristian Romero also netted a double in the 2-2 draw against Newcastle United on Tuesday night, with the Argentine rescuing a point at St James’ Park.

However, the January window presents an opportunity for Frank and the hierarchy to add needed quality to the attacking department to aid their chance of success.

Spurs looking to bolster their forward line

In an attempt to improve the options within the final third, Spurs have identified Porto striker Samu Aghehowa as a potential option ahead of the January window.

The 21-year-old has been in tremendous form during the 2025/26 season, as seen by his tally of 12 goals in his 20 appearances for the Portuguese giants.

However, such a deal would certainly be a hefty one for Frank’s men, with his current employers demanding a fee in the region of €80m (£70m) to part ways with their talisman.

Samu isn’t the only attacker currently being considered by the Lilywhites hierarchy ahead of the winter window, with Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo also another target.

According to Sky Sports, Frank’s men have started to intensify their efforts to land the 25-year-old winger, who has already registered nine combined goals and assists this campaign.

They also state that Liverpool are also in the race for his signature, but Fabio Paratici’s early efforts have seen the Lilywhites take the lead in the hunt for his services.

Why Semenyo could be Spurs' new Heung-min Son

Heung-min Son is a player who massively exceeded expectations during his decade in North London, with the South Korean international one of the best to wear the Spurs shirt.

He joined as an unknown quantity to many supporters back in the summer of 2015, but after a decade at the club, it’s safe to say he cemented himself as one of their best-ever attackers.

The winger racked up a staggering total of 173 goals in his 454 appearances for the club, even racking up 101 assists – often being to the go-to man alongside Harry Kane.

However, Frank was unable to rely upon the 33-year-old after taking the reins, with the attacker departing in a £20m deal to join LAFC during the summer window.

Son, who was capable of impressing with both feet, has left a huge hole on the left-hand side of the Lilywhites’ attack, something which has been a huge issue for the Dane.

That could be about to change in the coming months, especially if the hierarchy are able to secure a move for Semenyo in the upcoming transfer window

The Ghanaian international, who has demonstrated his two-footed ability this campaign, has also produced numerous impressive figures – with his underlying figures showcasing his qualities in possession.

Semenyo, who’s been dubbed “world-class” by teammate Justin Kluivert, has managed 0.69 goals and assists per 90, a tally higher than any player in the Spurs squad.

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Such a tally ranks him in the 97th percentile of all other attackers in the division, showcasing his incredible ability to produce the goods in front of goal.

Antoine Semenyo – PL stats (2025/26)

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

13

Goals & assists

9

Goals & assists (per 90)

0.69

Shots on target

1.1

Take-ons completed

1.8

Carries into opposition box

1.4

Aerials won

2.3

Progressive passes

3.8

Stats via FBref

He’s also registered 1.1 shots on target and 2.3 aerials won per 90, with both figures also ranking him higher than 95% of other wingers in the Premier League.

Semenyo is an all-round talent who can either go alone or provide the goods for those around him, with £65m potentially being an excellent price for a player of his quality.

Other stats, such as 1.8 take-ons and 1.4 carries into the final third per 90, further highlight his talent in possession, which could hand Frank the talent he craves in attacking areas.

It’s unclear if the board will manage to get a deal over the line in the coming months, but if they want to reach the next level, a move for Semenyo is an absolute must.

His skillset is scarily close to that of Son, with the Ghanaian having the chance to emulate the South Korean and make his own history should he move to North London.

Saved by Romero: Frank must bin Spurs flop who had fewer touches than Vicario

Tottenham Hotspur were fortunate to walk away with a point against Newcastle United last night.

2 ByEthan Lamb

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